Christmas 2010



Chris and I went to "The Christmas Carol" play  in Omaha a week before Christmas, it was a great production and we enjoyed having a date night out of town.

Hannah 4 3/4 years

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Alivia 2 3/4 years

Christmas eve we attended our church Christmas Eve service, then came home to open gifts with the girls, as we we're not sure if Chris would have to work Christmas eve night or not, they were blessed with many new things.   Christmas Day the girls and I just got up and lounged aroud, played with new toys and such and then we went to Chris's Mom and Dad's Christmas afternoon to celebrate.   The girls are enjoying all their new things and so are Chris and I.   We are looking foward to having the Grimes side of the family here (my house) for News Years Day to celebrate again!

Random pics of the girls

Like Daddy, like Daughter!

Aliva at her dance class!

Alivia loves dancing!!!!!!!!

Playing in the leaves !!!!

Whats Goin on around here...........

Wow is summer really almost over?!!!

Well Hannah will start Preschool again Wednesday the 25th, the original plan was for her to go 5 days a week this year, but plans have changed and for various reasons, we are doing 3 days a week again this year and we will do 5 days a week next year.   So I guess that means that Alivia and Hannah will both be in Preschool next year together! 

I have a full schedule of daycare this year all of them being part time except for 1 that will be 5 days a week for 8 hours, but in total I am watching 8 kiddos at various times throughout the week of course not counting my own.  It's amazing how in demand in home daycare is right now, I have turned down several.  I will probably only do this for another couple years, and then once Hannah is done with her 5 day Preschool I will start her homeschooling full time, which I am very excited and slightly nervous about.   

Hannah attended bible school at the first baptist church a few weeks ago and had a BLAST!  Alivia will be old enough to go next year.   All in all we have had a great summer of vacation, swimming, Kool Kats, Fair, Children's Museum, going to the park, going on walks, and playing outside!  Pictures of all this is to come, when I actually sit down and upload the pictures :) 

Little Sluggers T-ball 2010!

Hannah was pretty skeptical about whether she wanted to participate in T-ball but ended up really liking it.  Their first two games were rained out, so she ended up only playing in two games, but she had fun and at least got an idea of what the basics are of t-ball.  

Hannah's Magnadoodle drawings!

Hannah loves to draw on the magnadoodle and she just keeps getting better and more creative with the people she draws :)

In an attempt to keep this blog going........

WOW!  My last post was in April?   Well I dont think to many people read this so I don't think Im disappointing anyone.  

Probably the most exciting things going on in the Higgins House right now are (1) Alivia is potty training (not as easy as I thought she'd be, considering she's been going on the potty since she was 18mths, but I guess since I'm done with diapers now and she in panties all day, she's forgetting to tell me alot, but it's just as much work for me as her and Im not always on top of my game)    (2) Hannah and Alivia are now sharing a room.  They shared Hannah's room the night of Relay for Life, since Darin and Katy were sleeping in Liv's room and ever since she hasn't wanted to go back to her room.   Hannah has had no problem with it either, in fact Hannah doesn't ask to sleep in our room anymore.   So last night I made it official and moved Liv's bed into Hannah's room and they were, to put it lightly, very excited about the arrangment.   I figure if they are wanting to, I might as well go with it.  (3) Hannah has her first T-ball game on Saturday (the first two were cancelled due to rain) and she did pretty good, better than expected considering her shyness.  She'll only play one more game, but at least it gave her an idea of what it is, and how to play, and most of all she had fun!  No swim lesson's this year because "Mommy" was to slow to get her signed up and they all filled up, but she doesn't really fear the water and can do most of the things they teach them in the lessson anyway.

As far as I'm concered, Im still doing Daycare part-time this summer.   Im not as busy as I was during the school year.  I call myself more of a drop-in daycare.  The girls and I are still pretty free to go and do as we please.   

Chris works night 10p to 6a with Monday and Tuesday nights off, so thats his schedule, he sleeps during the day and gets up to be with us around 3p everyday.  He's been working alot of over time this summer already, but thats always nice, so that we can do those little summer projects on the house.   

We went to Branson for family vacation May 21st-May 27th.  It was alot of fun, but it sure wore me out and of course it's more expensive that you plan for........ (Im voting for somewhere cheaper and closer next year, we'll see if Chris goes for it) 

We are heading to Swisher/North Liberty the 2nd week of July to visit family!  

Other than that we are hanging out here and swimming ALOT!!!!!!

Hannah's and Alivia's Garden!

Thanks to the best neighbors ever, the girls now have a small garden in our back yard, that they will be able to take care of. Dennis and Julia Cavin are our next back yard neighbors and while cutting back some dead areas of a bush that we share, Julia came up with the ideas to plants some flowers with the girls and let them take care of it. Julia just happens to be Hannah's Preschool teacher, eventually Alivia's as well and I guess you could say she has a special attachment to the girls (kinda like honorary grandma and grandpa). So Since stink at ever having anything to say or post on here, I thought this was blog worthy! Im excited for them to take care of it and show ownership to it and learn a sence of responsibility. And of course it's always fun to get dirty!

Happy 2nd Birthday Alivia!

Getting her nails painted

Winnie the Pooh Party!

Singing Happy Birthday

Blowing out the candle!

YUMMMY!!

Alivia Marie

271/2 lbs

29" (guesstimate)

Loves her blanket and puppy

Loves to go outside anytime!

Loves to snuggle with Mommy in the morning

Loves to give hugs and kisses (to most people)

Is pretty outgoing and not to shy around other kids (more shy around adults)

Loves having other kids come to house (Daycare kids)

Loves going on walks (especially to Grandma and Grandpas's House where she is thouroughly spoiled with Oreo cookies and M and Ms.

Loves to be naked, (which is why I think she's beening potty training since 18mths)

Loves playing anything that sissy is playing

Talks all the time and is basically like a human spunge, she'll repeat anything.
Wants to do EVERYTHING herself!

So in other words, she's typical 2 year old girl!

A little late, but none the less! My 1st baby turned 4!

The birthday girl woke up to a room full of balloons!
Then powdered donuts for breakfast!

My beautiful 4 year old!

Dora Party Theme!

The Ice cream cake from Dairy Queen!

ZuZu Pet from DaNea!

Hangin out with Sissy and DaNea on her birthday!

A special visist from Hannah's favorite teacher Mrs. Cavin and her husband Dennis, who have a special relationship with Hannah being our next door neighbors as well!

A Dora Kite ( the only thing she actually asked for)! You can see the excitement!

Hannah was spoiled with to many things to even say, but she is one blessed 4 year old and loves everything she got! Thank you to everyone for making her day so special!